Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz
Volume 62, Issue 9, 2019, Pages 1083-1091

Workload and health of workers with a migrant background [Arbeitsbelastung und Gesundheit von Erwerbstätigen mit Migrationshintergrund] (Article)

Becker J.* , Faller G.
  • a Department of Community Health, Hochschule für Gesundheit, Gesundheitscampus 6–8, Bochum, 44801, Germany
  • b Department of Community Health, Hochschule für Gesundheit, Gesundheitscampus 6–8, Bochum, 44801, Germany

Abstract

Background and objectives: Diversity is increasing, including among workers. Traditional approaches in occupational safety and health are no longer sufficient to meet the emerging challenges in the workplace. Currently, knowledge about specific needs of workers with a migrant background is insufficient to develop suitable interventions under participatory methods. The aim of this work is to gain knowledge about diversity in the workplace and discuss considerations for suitable prevention and health promotion. Materials and methods: Research in reports, analyses of the German Socio-Economic Panel, as well as a review of the literature in relevant databases served to collate current findings about health indicators, stress and strain, structural conditions, and occupational prevention and health promotion. Results: Differentiated results about health in the workplace and stress and strain could be identified. In particular, workers with a migrant background are more often exposed to physical stress and harsh environmental conditions. Furthermore, structural conditions are worse for these workers, e.g. due to lower employment rates, as well as enhanced atypical employment among the target group. Conclusion: Plausible explanations for the reported differences are discussed and useful implications are given. However, the overall lack of data and challenges in data collection must be considered. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Deutschland, ein Teil von Springer Nature.

Author Keywords

Diversity Health promotion background Working conditions prevention

Index Keywords

physical stress health status Germany workload Humans occupational health Transients and Migrants work environment health promotion Article health care personnel employment psychology human workplace migrant migration

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85071247329&doi=10.1007%2fs00103-019-02992-0&partnerID=40&md5=e0c4f8d7ae14fc4857951f621591b7da

DOI: 10.1007/s00103-019-02992-0
ISSN: 14369990
Original Language: German